Pattukkottai is a major town located in the Thanjavur district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It serves as an important commercial hub for the coastal areas of the Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, and Pudukkottai districts. The town functions as the headquarters of the Pattukkottai taluk and is one of only two municipalities within the Thanjavur district.
The recorded history of the town dates back to the 17th century, during which it was ruled by both the Thanjavur Marathas and the British. It gained prominence across Southern India following the construction of a fort by Vanaji Pandithar, a feudatory of the Thanjavur Maratha ruler Shahuji I, between 1686 and 1687.